Palau battles crime, corruption and geopolitics
Palau, an island nation of approximately 17,000 residents, has emerged as a focal point in the geopolitical contest between the United States and China. The U.S. maintains critical military infrastructure in Palau, including airstrips and radar installations, making...
PNG taps green finance and petroleum partners at summit
The Green Finance Summit 2025, held from March 24–26 at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby, marked a pivotal moment in Papua New Guinea’s commitment to sustainable economic development. Organised by the Green Finance Centre (GFC) under the auspices of the Bank of Papua...
Minister invites Chinese giant for energy investment
Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Petroleum, Jimmy Maladina, has extended a formal invitation to one of the world’s largest construction and infrastructure firms, the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), to consider investment opportunities in Papua...
Income Tax Act 2025: Key business reforms and implications
Papua New Guinea’s Parliament unanimously passed the long-awaited Income Tax Bill 2025 on 20 March, marking a major milestone in the country’s tax reform agenda. The new Income Tax Act (ITA), effective from 1 January 2026, introduces several structural and...
IMF endorses PNG’s reform progress; PGK 445m in support
Papua New Guinea and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reached a staff-level agreement on the fourth review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and Extended Fund Facility (EFF), as well as the first review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility...
Momentum builds around Fiji Trade & Investment Review 2025
Since its announcement last month, the Fiji Trade & Investment Review 2025 has generated growing interest across business communities in both Fiji and Australia. Jointly launched by the Australia Fiji Business Council (AFBC) and Investment Fiji, the comprehensive...
Fiji Airways expands Adelaide-Nadi route
Fiji Airways has announced an expansion of its Adelaide-Nadi flight service, increasing frequency from two to three times weekly starting April 2025. The new schedule includes departures from Nadi every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, offering Australian and Fijian...
Australia, Vanuatu strengthen economic ties at 7AVBF
The 7th Australia Vanuatu Business Forum, held from 12–13 March 2025 at the Warwick Le Lagon Hotel, marked a significant advancement in bilateral economic relations. The event brought together business leaders, policymakers, and industry specialists to explore...
Pacific Island nations confront trade shock from U.S. tariffs
The Trump administration’s sweeping imposition of new tariffs on a wide range of imports has triggered a global economic shake-up — and small Pacific Island nations are finding themselves caught in the fallout. While not direct players in major global trade wars,...
UK’s Pacific Business Club launches in Australia
The Australian arm of the UK Government’s Pacific Business Club was launched last month – a timely and strategic initiative designed to support the development of Pacific Island Countries by leveraging the strength and experience of UK-headquartered companies....
East Micronesia cable project reaches key milestone
The East Micronesia Cable (EMC) project has reached a major implementation milestone, with the first of four cable landing stations installed in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The project, which will significantly enhance internet speed, reliability...
Australia reallocates aid to Indo-Pacific amid global shifts
Australia is stepping up its aid commitments to the Indo-Pacific region, redirecting resources and reshaping its development strategy in response to significant cuts in U.S. foreign assistance. The move comes as the Albanese Government prepares to navigate a shifting...